Martha’s Vineyard – June 22, 1971

On the morning of June 22, 1971, Northeast Airlines, Flight 938, left Kennedy International Airport in New York bound for New Bedford, Massachusetts. From New Bedford, it was to travel to Martha’s Vineyard. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, (N982NE) arrived at New Bedford without incident, and departed at 8:22 a.m., and proceeded to Martha’s Vineyard.

While on final approach to Martha’s Vineyard Airport under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) the airplane struck the water about three miles from the end of Runway 24. The impact caused minor damage, and the airplane was able to remain airborne. Fortunately, none of the five crewmembers and thee passengers aboard were injured, but the incident still needed to be reported as an aviation accident.